Lesson
Road and traffic signs
Signs follow a pattern: their shape and colour tell you what kind of message they give before you can read them. Learn the patterns and most signs become easy to work out.
Key rules to know
- Circles give orders. A red circle tells you what you must not do; a blue circle tells you what you must do.
- Triangles warn you of something ahead.
- Rectangles give information — blue on motorways, green on primary routes, white on local routes.
- The STOP sign is the only octagonal sign, and the GIVE WAY sign is the only upside-down triangle.
How it applies on the road
Flashing amber at a pelican crossing
You must give way to any pedestrians on the crossing. If it is clear, you may go on with caution. (This flashing amber phase is specific to pelican crossings — normal traffic lights do not flash amber.)
A red circle with '30' inside
This is a maximum speed limit you must not exceed — it is an order, not advice.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up 'no entry' (red circle, white bar) with 'no vehicles' (plain red ring).
- Treating advisory speed signs (rectangular) as legal limits — or ignoring them altogether.
Official sources
Content written and reviewed by Rob Cordina. Last reviewed: October 2026. Our practice questions are original, written from the Highway Code — they are not official DVSA questions. Always check the latest Highway Code.